Vickers A1E1 Independent
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| Vickers A1E1 "Independent" | |
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| Type | Tank |
| Place of origin |  United Kingdom |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Vickers |
| Number built | 1 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 32 tons |
| Length | 24 ft 11 in (7.6 m) |
| Width | 8 ft 9 in (2.7 m) |
| Height | 8 ft 11 in (2.7 m) |
| Crew | 8 |
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| Armour | 13-28 mm |
| Primary armament |
QF 3 pdr (47 mm) |
| Secondary armament |
4 x Vickers machine gun |
| Engine | Armstrong Siddeley V12 370 hp (280 kW) |
| Suspension | coil spring bogies |
| Speed | 20 mph, 30 km/h |
The Independent A1E1 was a multi-turreted tank designed by the British armaments manufacturer Vickers during the Interwar period. Although it only ever reached the prototype stage it influenced many other tank designs.
The A1E1 design, for example, can be seen as a possible influence on the Soviet tank designs T-35, T-100, T-28, the German tank designs PzKpfw NbFz V, PzKpfw NbFz VI Neubaufahrzeug, and the British tank designs A6/Medium Mk III and A9/Cruiser Mk I (triple turret).
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[edit] Design
The Independent had a central gun turret with the 3 pdr (47 mm) gun. To the front two subsidiary turrets each with a 0.303 Vickers machine gun, to the rear two more turrets, again each with a single Vickers MG but able to elevate to engage aircraft. The tank was designed to have heavy firepower, self-defence capability, and superiority to enemy weapons.
[edit] Production
A prototype was produced in 1926, based on a War Office specification from 1922, but the design was abandoned due to a lack of funds. The prototype can be seen at Bovington Tank Museum.
[edit] See also
[edit] References and External Links
